Last month the NCAA announced unprecedented sanctions against Penn State and the Nittany Lions, including a $60 million fine and a 4-year postseason ban in response to the child sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Jack the Ripper: a legend wrapped in grizzly true events, which led to the deaths of at least five women. No guns were involved, just senseless brutality in which even the police were taunted with letters and bits of body parts. The papers gave him massive coverage, and any paper in England not covering him at the time would have been considered behind.

In a column I wrote last July titled "Education is the key to the future." I commented on the financial problems faced by states and municipalities and the measures local governments were taking to clean up their fiscal houses. Among the options being considered at the time were cuts to education spending from elementary to higher education.

President Obama's announcement to stop deporting certain illegal immigrants has unleashed an intense debate across the country. A Bloomberg poll found that Americans favor his policy change two to one. Although my opinions on President Obama tend to be moderate, the president's willingness to make ethical progress on immigration has elicited my support.

Newspaper sales have taken a one-two punch in recent years, first from the Internet and then from the widespread availability of tablets and other mobile technology. Local newspapers have been hit especially hard, as many don't have the resources to develop quality web sites and mobile apps. Many are wondering if this could be the death of local news as we know it, and I'm here to tell you it is.

Everyone dreads the prospect of the infamous "freshman 15." As a college student, your budget may allot ramen noodles two meals a day, seven days a week. A good number of students attend school full-time and can't (or won't!) hold a job. For these students, as well as those with minimum-wage part-time jobs, finding a way to eat healthy and stay in shape (or lose some weight once you get to college) is a challenge. Keeping a budget and knowing how to shop are key components in being healthy while saving money.